A 2-5 start went to 3-5, then 3-6. Newburgh won three straight games to reach .500, and coach Matt Iorlano thought it might be the start of something big, with all 12 remaining games divisional matchups.

Not yet. Newburgh opened divisional play by losing two of three to Middletown.

Then Iorlano read a story in the Times Herald-Record about Cornwall's success playing small ball. Iorlano had plenty of speed and talent on his team. Why not give it a shot?

Newburgh won two of three against Pine Bush, setting up a pivotal three-game series against Kingston, which, at 8-1, was well on its way to the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I title.

Even Kingston coach Mike Groppuso was stunned by the result of game one: Newburgh 17, Kingston 2.

Newburgh followed with a 9-8 win and completed the sweep with a 12-3 rout.

Newburgh then won two of three against Monroe-Woodbury to clinch the title, needing to score three runs in the seventh inning to take the must-win finale 11-9 on Friday in Central Valley.